Pillar mounting for closed cars



April 29', 1924 1,492,292

C.F.GREEN PILLAR MOUNTING FOR CLOSED mas 7 Filed Nov. 14, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. Char/es 6712 en A TTORNEY April 29, 1924. 1,492,292

C. F. GREEN PILLAR MOUNTING FOR CLOSED CARS Filed Nov. 14, 1918 v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z V .:*V w m .m

2a 23 INVENTOR Z l8 Char/es Green I 1K. a r A ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 29, W24.

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CHARLES F. GREEN, OF DEFIANCE, OHIO. ASSIGNOB TO INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH COR- PORATION, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F.DELAWARE.

PILLAR MOUNTING FOR CLOSED CABS.

Application filedliovember 14,1918. Serial No. 262,536.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Defiance, county of Defiance, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pillar Mountings for Closed Cars, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in automobile bodies of the type in which the side windows and pillars may be moved out of position so as to convert a closed body into one having its sides entirely open and without obstruction of any kind.

An important object of the invention-is to provide pillars of such a character and to mount them in such a way as to make them invisible when in their inoperative position and to dispense with unsightly projections above the body side walls, which projections would interfere with the stream line eiiect now considered very desirable by automobile designers.

Another object of my invention is to re duce the size of the pillars heretofore used in bodies of this type, thus adding materially to their attractiveness A further object of the invention is to provide fastenings for the upper end of the pillar which will not only hold it in place, but will prevent the slightest movement between the pillars and the body top.

Other objects Will appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of the invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure I is a side elevation of an automobile body embodying my invention, the windows and pillars being in raised or operative position;

Figure II is similar to Figure I, but with the pillars and windows moved out of the side opening of the automobile body,

Figure III is a fragmental plan view of one of the body side walls showing the pillars folded down intothe window pocket.

Figure IV is a fragmental horizontal cross section of the body side wall taken on the line IV-IV of Figure V.

Figure V is a fragmental vertical cross section on the line VV of Figures III and IV.

Figures VI and VII are horizontal cross sections of the rear and front pillars respectively, and of fragments of the adjoining windows, these views being taken on the lines VIVI, and VII-VII, of Figure 1.

Figure VIII is a vertical cross section on the line VIII-VIII of Figure II, showing a pillar folded down into the window pocket.

Figure IX is a vertical cross section on the line IXIX of Figure I. showing the fastening means for securing the upper ends of the pillars in operative position.

Figure X is a perspective of the upper end of the pillar built in accordance with my invention.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. The sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

In the drawings I have illustrated an automobile body 10 of the sedan type, having on each side a window opening 11, extending along the greater portion of the body and terminated along its upper edge by a horizontal rail 12. The side walls of the body 10 are made up of two elements 13 and 14:, spaced apart to provide a window pocket 15 into which the windows 16 may be lowered. The windows may be of usual construction, that is, they may consist of sheets of heavy glass bound on their verticaledges with suitable pack ng 17 to deaden vibration and prevent 110189:

Pillars 18 and 19 form slide ways between the rear and middle windows and the middle and front windows respectively. For the purpose of my invention I prefer to construct these pillars of sheet metal bent into the forms illustrated in the drawings. By so doing. I am enabled to provide suiticient strength and rigidity without the bulkiness of the wooden pillars now in common use, and the window pocket 15 need be but very little wider than the window itself. As is clearly illustrated in Figures VI, VIII and X, the sides of the pillar 18 are formed with longitudinal recesses to accommodate the packing" 17 on the side edges of the windows, while the pillar 19 is similar except that on one side it is formed witha shoulder only in order to receive the packing on the side of the window constitilting the upper portion of the door 20. At their lower ends the'pillars 18 and 19 are loosely mounted upon pivots 21, which are fixed in the elements 13 and 14 of the side walls. While. at the present time, I consider this method of mounting satisfactory, it will be appreciated that other methods of hinging the pillars to the body may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The rail 12 is provided on its underside with a groove 22, which may run throughout its length or may extend'only for short distances at points above the respective pivots 21. Small castings 23 formed at their ends into flat faced hooks are set into and secured. in the upper extremities of the pillars. The groove 22 is of just sufiicient width to receive the hook part of thecasting 23. A pin 24 with a knurled head and a screw-threaded end extends through cylindrical holes 25 and 26 in t'h e rail 12, the center lines of" the holes being coincident with the center line ofthe mouth 27' of the hook. the hole 25 being screw-threaded and smaller than the hole 26. On the inner exposed face of the casting 23 and around the mouth of the hook there is a reamed-out surface 28 which corresponds in its angle of inclination to t the pin.

The operation of my invention will be obvious from the above description. When it is desired to convert the automobile body from a closed one toan open one, the front and middle windows 16 are first lowered into the window pockets, and the rear windot? is removed and stored in any suitable place, the shape, of the ordinary sedan body making it impossible to, have the rear window slide down into the window pocket. difliculty, however, is overcomein narrower body designs. Then the pin 2 1owhich extends through the hook on the pillar18 1s unscrewed s'ufliciently to remove the inclined shoulder 29 from the groove 22 in e inclined shoulder 29 of the rail after which the pillar 18 may be swung down into the window pocket.

It will be noted that when a window is lowered into its pocket and the corre sponding pillar is in its lowered position, the longitudinal recess on its underside will receive the upper edge of the glass window. This is an important feature of the invention, as the available storage space for the windows must be utilized as completely as possible.

The other pillar 19 is next lowered into the window pocket in the same manner. The side of the car will then be entirely free from. obstructions, as illustrated in Figure II, and there will be a continuous, uninterrupted line along the edge of the body, which is strongly to be desired, and constitutes oneof the principal advantages of my invention.

Nhen the pillars are raised into operative position, the pin 24 is again screwed home, causing the inclined shoulder 29 to press tightly against the similarly inclined reamed portion 28 around the mouth 27 of the hook, pressing the opposite flat face of'the hook against the corresponding flat face of the groove 22 and preventing any twisting of the pillar as well as any movement on its hinge.

In the body illustrated in the drawings the windows are approximately square. Vvhere this design is followed it is possible to so proportion the parts as to bring the upper end of the pillar 19 into juxta-position with the lower end of the pillar 18' when they are in their lowered positions, thus providing a complete closure for the window pocket. Where the design of the body makes it advisable to have'the windows greater in width than in height, there will, of course, be a space between the ends of adjacent pillars. The number of windows and the number of pillars may, of course, be varied to suit different styles of bodies.

I am aware that the particular embodiment of my invention which I have here shown and described, is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit of my invention. I have found,

however, that this particular embodiment is desirable from many standpoints and, therefore, I desire to claim the same specifically, as well as broadly, as indicated in the appended. claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In an automobile body having a window opening and a window pocket in its side wall, a horizontal rail above said window opening, a pillar pivoted at its lower extremity to swing parallel with the body wall. the upper end of said pillar being provided with a hook, a pin mounted in said IIO message rail to extend through the mouth of the hook, said hook being reamed out on one side, said pin being provided with a circumferential inclined shoulder to fit said reamed portion of the hook, and means for causing the shouldered portion of the pin to maintain tight engagement with the reamed portion of the hook.

2. In an automobile body having a window opening and a window pocket in its sidewall, a horizontal rail above said window opening, a pillar pivoted at its lower extremity to swing parallel with the body wall, the upper end of said pillar being provided with a hook, said upper rail having a recess adapted to receive said hook, a pin mounted in said rail to extend transversely across the recess and through the mouth of the hook, said hook being reamed out on one side, said pin being provided with a circumferential inclined shoulder to fit said reamed portion of the hook, and means for causing the shouldered portion of the pin to maintain tight engagement with the reamed portion of the hook.

3. In an automobile body having a window opening and a window pocket in its side wall, a horizontal rail above said window opening, a pillar pivoted at its lower extremity to swing parallel with the body wall, the upper end of said pillar being provided with a hook, said upper rail having a recess adapted to receive said hook, a pin mounted in said rail to extend transversely across the recess and through the mouth of the hook, said hook being reamed out on one side, said pin being provided with a circumferential inclined shoulder to fit said reamed portion of the hook, said rail and pin having inter-engaging threaded portions whereby said pin may be moved to cause said shouldered portion to assume and maintain tight engagement with the reamed portion of the hook.

4. In an automobile body, fixed top rails having grooves therein, side walls beneath the same having pockets therein, windows having their upper edges normally disposed within the grooves of said top rails and adapted to slide downwardly into said pockets and pillars arranged to swing downwardly and wholly within the pockets and serving to completely close the same, said pillars having means adapted to be detachably connected to said fixed top rail when in upright position.

5. In an automobile body, fixed top rails having grooves therein, side walls beneath the same having pockets therein, windows having their upper edges normally disposed within said grooves, pillars separating the windows when in their raised position, and pivots mounted in saidpockets and supporting the lower ends of the pillars, said pillars having means adapted to be detachably connected to said fixed top rail when in upright position, and when swung downwardly to inoperative position, being disposed wholly within and serving to completely close said pockets.

6. In an automobile body, fixed top rails having grooves therein, side walls having pockets therein, windows having their'upper edges normally disposed within said grooves, and illars provided with longitudinally exten ing grooves to receive the vertical edges of the windows, said pillars being arranged to swing downwardly and wholly within the pockets and serving to completely close the same, the grooved portions of the lower edge of each pillar in its inoperative position receiving the upper edge of the corresponding window, said pillars having detachable means for securing them to said fixed top rails when in upright position.

7. An automobile body having a window opening and a window pocket in its side wall, a top rail above said window opening having a groove therein, a window having its upper edge normally disposed within said groove, a pillar having its lower end pivoted within said pocket, a hook upon the opposite end of the pillar adapted ,to project into the groove of said rail, and a member within the groove serving as an anchor for the hook.

8. An automobile body having a window opening and a window pocket in its side wall, a rail above said window opening having a groove therein, a window having its upper edge normally disposed within said groove, a pillar having its lower end connected with the body and adapted to swing into said pocket, the upper end of the pillar normally extending into said groove, and a member insertable transversely through the rail to engage and clamp the pillar within the groove.

9. An automobile body having a window opening and a window pocket in its side wall beneath said opening, a window movable into and out of said pocket and normally closing said opening, a door adjacent said pocket having a window receiving pocket therein, a window for said door movable into and out of said door pocket beside the first mentioned window, a pillar disposed between said windows and having recesses on its opposite sides to receive the adjacent edges of the windows and permitting the door and window carried thereby to be swung into and out of closed position, a pivotal connection for the lower end of the pillar whereby it may be swung into the first mentioned pocket when the window is disposed therein, a top rail adapted to receive the upper edges of the windows when in closed position, and means for clamping said pillar upon the said rail,

10. An automobile body having pockets in the side wall thereof, a top carried by the body, windows movable into and out of said: pockets to engage said top, recessed pillars having terminal hooks adapted to be swung down into said pockets and to be moved to an upright position to receive the sides of the Windows, the hook of one pillar being disposed within the recess of the other,

pillar when swung down into said pockets, and means adapted to connect the upper ends of the pillars with said top.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

CHARLES F. GREEN, 

